12/2/74 Picked up Wayne Judy at 1:30 and off for Irene MacKellar’s mother’s funeral. Layna did not go - too busy preparing duck feed for the Walters and Virgil Andersons. They came about 6:30. A couple of drinks, some serious discussion - on many subjects and a great feast. The Walters absolutely tops - not so sure of Virgil. I tell myself that I don’t hold his profession (preacher) against him in making judgment. At any rate, he doesn’t measure up to the doctor, but for that matter, few do.
12/3/74 Layna and I to Dr. Walter’s office at 12:15. Saw the good doctor soon after. He had the results of the tests given us last week and said we had passed with flying colors. I told him that I still had discomfort in my lower unit. He said we will check in a week.
12/5/74 I wrote and addressed 25 cards today. I hate to receive a card with nothing but a signature on it so send none like that. Some notes rather hard to write - Jean Edwards, Margaret Ellingsworth. It is time consuming but I enjoy the contact. In loading garbage to take to dump, I broke a large cardboard box and contents spilled all over trunk. Didn’t say a word. In reviewing the incident with Layna later, we both thought I used a great deal of restraint. Is that good? Does it mean that I don’t have any steam to let off?
12/7/74 To Bill Martin’s in evening. Armstrongs there. At 12:00 midnight, Gladys dragged out a full meal - fried chicken and the works. We left there stuffed! We haven’t seen those good people since August. It makes me feel good that they make an effort to keep our relationship alive.
12/8/74 Walked to island. I took ice at Curtice dock, testing it carefully across narrows. It was at least 4” all over. On to our place, slippery in spots, much blue ice. Saw wolf near Iceslide Island. A raven buzzed him a couple of times. Interesting. To Froehlichs for Sunday supper. A nice gesture on their part. It is very evident that they are the very best kind of parents. The kids show it. It is also evident that they appreciate how we, mostly Layna, treat those kids. A very satisfactory neighbor relations.
12/9/74 When I saw Dr. Walter last Tuesday he said “If the pain persists for a week, call me.” Well my pain, more aptly a discomfort, had persisted all week so I called his office and they said he would call back. I stayed in earshot of phone all day and it wasn’t until 6 p.m. that I got his call. “Be at hospital at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow for X-rays.” Layna took Buck to hospital for hernia repair. He didn’t seem worried. I wouldn’t be either, if I knew that was all that was wrong with me.
12/10/74 To hospital at 11:00 a.m. Waited, got cleansing enema, waited, got x-rayed, got barium enema, x-rayed, waited, drank barium, got x-rayed, dressed - sent home. “When and who will tell me anything?” “Your doctor, tomorrow.” All very damned impersonal. As I went out the door, I decided to peek in on Buck. I was amazed to find him sitting up in bed reading. Looked and felt fine. Great!
12/11/74 Wrote 10 more Xmas cards, which makes a total of 78. I am done, the earliest on record. Everyone had a note in it. To town at 1:00 to clean up some business. Dr. Walter took me on schedule. He had Dr. Miller’s report and said that all that the X-rays showed was a small case of diverticulitis in lower intestine. “Don’t worry about it.” What a great relief!
12/12/74 Layna, as usual, doing the lion’s share of packing. I thought I was done with Xmas cards but answered 6 more unexpected ones today. New total, 84. To town to say goodbye to Buck in hospital. He looks great and thinks he will be home tomorrow. I’ll bet he thinks operations are a breeze - and overrated. Home at 7:00. Jayme, Dale and Jill here soon after. Presents all around. We have a great family. Jayme will watch the place while we are gone. No worry on that score.
12/13/74 Jayme picked us up and to bus depot in cold gray dawn. We had four suit cases plus Layna’s purse and grab bag. Sally met us in St. Paul at 1:40. A good place here for interesting note comparing bus and air fare - 2 round trip tickets to St. Paul via bus - $54.00. 2 round trip tickets to St. Paul via North Central = $166.00. We save $112.00 by sitting in bus a few extra hours! An ethnic group dinner at Jernbergs in evening. 15 guests, each couple bringing different type of food. A song fest followed - songs mostly unfamiliar to us - good tho.
12/14/74 Jim beat me 3 games of ping pong. I can still beat Jimmy, but not for long. Jim and I to see U of M beat N. Illinois 63 - 57. Interesting, mostly watching crowd.
12/15/74 To watch Jimmy’s hockey team win 5 - 1. He got a goal. Rather thought provoking to see kids perform in $1,000,000 facility wearing $100 uniforms. Recession seems far away.
12/16/74 I picked up two books for George, one on dog training. I inscribed it saying it was important to be smarter than the dog. We bought $700 in travelers checks making our cash assets $841. That should bring us home.
12/17/74 The Raymans picked us up at 4:15 and off to see the Williams sisters. We were to sit a “minute” but they were wound up and it lasted more than an hour.
1974 Mexican Vacation 12/18 -12/31/74
Minneapolis to Mexico City.
“A great thrill for people like us who haven’t had their senses jaded by too much of everything.”
“Heavy smog over Mexico City, worse than LA.”
“ two hours of rather harrowing driving to San Miguel.”
“Rainy Lake seems - and is - far, far away.”
San Miguel.
Duck hunting in back country. “An old hacienda, now in ruins, stirred my imagination. What a feudal empire Mexico was under the Spaniards.”
“We took a 3rd class bus home. 5 pesos each! We have seen thousands of these bused on the highway over a period of years so it was a real adventure to ride in one.”
“Pasada day at Casa Williams. They entertained 265 kids, some parents and about 30 gringos for a total of about 365.”
“Took off for Celaya at 1:30 to see Charros perform in bull ring. The show was only so-so but crowd was great.”
“we accompanied George & Maria to jail where Maria’s family put on a Pasada for the inmates. It is a tradition of many years standing, at least 3 generations. There were 60 men there, including two Americans.”
12/24/74 “A big day far from home and family. We thought of them often.”
12/25/74 “Christmas Day and the first one away from some member of our family - ever.”
“Terry called to wish us a Merry Xmas and upshot was that Maria invited him to come to San Miguel. Hope we aren’t overdoing it. It was good to hear from kith and kin, regardless.”
“Terry looked great, apparently had spent an interesting time in Mexico City. He fit in well.”
Shopping with Maria. “A couple of kids, brothers, carried the baskets into which Maria dropped her purchases. I was embarrassed to walk empty handed behind loaded 10 year old. Felt like a scab later when I carried a box and beat a kid out of a job!”
“Dove hunting in evening. Terry with us. We got 9 birds.”
“George and I took Terry into San Miguel to catch bus for Vera Cruz. Terry seemed to enjoy his stay and showed his appreciation. Another Johnson we can be proud of.”
“I watched the Vikings earn a place in the Super Bowl by beating LA 14 - 10. The game was narrated in Spanish by an excitable announcer. I didn’t understand much of what he said but there was no question when a missed pass was ‘INCOMPLETO!’”
“Layna joined us when we walked the dogs this a.m. Said George to Layna, ‘Hold the dog while I tie my shoe lace.’ Layna answered, ‘I’ll tie the shoe lace.’”
“New Year’s Eve and it was a quiet one. Had real serious talk with Felix concerning family life in Mexico and USA. When we finished he gave me a Mexican embrace and said that Maria’s family considered Don & Layna part of them. Very moving. So endeth 1974 - a good year.”
